Manual beveler and sealer for pipe coatings

ABSTRACT

A finishing tool for a length of pipe coated with a material containing a meltable binder is designed to seal the material on the pipe surface while beveling the terminal edge of the coating to present a smooth surface suitable for taping or coating after two lengths of pipe are welded together. The finishing tool includes a circular ring conforming generally to the transverse configuration of the pipe and sufficiently larger than the latter to permit the ring to be telescoped over the end of the pipe and into engagement with the proximal terminal edge of the coating. The ring is of V-shaped cross section and is capable of withstanding substantial heating without deformation. A heater is adapted to receive the ring and heat the latter to a temperature above the melting point of the binder constituent of the coating. A pair of insulated handles allow installation and manipulation of the tool while it is hot.

United States Patent [191 Bickham 51 July 3,1973

[ MANUAL BEVELER AND SEALER FOR PIPE COATINGS [75] Inventor: Francis L. Bickham, Dickinson, Tex.

[73] Assignee: H. C. Price Co., Bartlesville, Okla. 22 Filed: May 6, 1971 21 Appl. No.1 140,656

[52] US. Cl. 425/458, l5/235.3 [51] Int. Cl B28b 19/00 [58] Field of Search 425/87, 458, 108,

Primary Examiner-.1. Spencer Overholser Assistant Examiner-B. D. Tobor Attorney-Bradley and Wharton 5 7 ABSTRACT A finishing tool for a length of pipe coated with a material containing a meltable binder is designed to seal the material on the pipe surface while beveling the terminal edge of the coating to present a smooth surface suitable for taping or coating after two lengths of pipe are welded together. The finishing tool includes a circular ring conforming generally to the transverse configuration of the pipe and sufficiently larger than the latter to permit the ring to be telescoped over the end of the pipe and into engagement with the proximal terminal edge of the coating. The ring is of V-shaped cross section and is capable of withstanding substantial heating without deformation. A heater is adapted to receive the ring and heat the latter to a temperature above the melting point of the binder constituent of the coating. A pair of insulated handles allow installation and manipulation of the tool while it is hot.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENIEUJIIL 3 ma 3. 743.470

48 Francis Lliickham /ii/ INVENTOR M BY ATTORNEYS.

MANUAL BEVELER AND SEALER FOR PIPE COATINGS This invention relates to pipe coating apparatus and, more particularly, to a tool for finishing the terminal end of a coating which has been applied to a length of pipe.

It is a common practice to coat pipe for pipelines with a protective asphaltic mastic-type coating. This type of coating is normally applied .to the pipe while in a flowable state and allowed to harden on the pipe. For underwater installations, a heavier aggregate type of coating is normally applied over the mastic coating for weight purposes.

One method of application of asphaltic mastic coatings to pipe comprises passing the successive lengths of pipe through an extruder wherein the coating material is applied uniformly over the pipe. Successive lengths of pipe are temporarily fastened together in end-to-end relationship for movement through the extruder by cylindrical couplers telescoped over the trailing end of one length of pipe and over the leading end of the next successive length. The couplers not only serve to maintain the pipe sections in precise alignment while traversing the extruder orifice, but they also provide a terminal portion proximal each end of the pipe with a surface free of the mastic coating after the couplers are removed. These terminal uncoated or cutaway portions are required for carrying out the welding operations wherein the individual lengths of pipe are joined together to form the pipeline. The process of removing the protective covering-coupler from the end of the pipe leaves a jagged edge at the zone of fracture between the coating which is on the protective coveringcoupler and the coating which adheres to the surface of the pipe. The fracture impairs the seal between the protective coating and the pipe. It also poses difficulties in joining the pipe coating with other protective coatings which are applied to the previously uncoated portions after the lengths of pipe are joined together in the pipeline. It is the practice in some instances to tape the joint where two lengths of pipe are secured together to provide a protective covering of generally the same properties as the mastic covering previously applied to the pipe. Alternatively, in some instances, a mastictype material is molded around the pipe joint to provide a protective covering which conforms to the mastic covering previously applied. Particularly in the case when the joined pipe is taped to provide a protective covering, it is essential that the jagged edge of the mastic covering be smoothed and beveled to provide a surface which will be suitable for forming a seal with both the pipe and the tape.

Prior attempts to provide finishing tools which satisfactorily bevel and smooth the jagged coating edge of a coated pipe length, have not been highly satisfactory. In general, it has been the practice to apply a heat source to the coating in the area of the jagged edge and to then trowel or smooth a portion of the coating in an attempt to present a relatively smooth and beveled surface. This has been a time-consuming procedure, normally requiring at least two workmen, and the quality and uniformity of the resulting beveled surface has depended almost entirely upon the skill of the workmen.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a finishing tool for a length of pipe coated with a meltable material wherein the shape of the tool conforms to the desired shape of the finished surface whereby quality and uniformity in the finishing operation are not highly dependent upon the skill of the workmen.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool for finishing the jagged edge of a coating applied to a length of pipe, wherein the tool can be heated to the melting point of the coating binder thus eliminating the need to provide a source of heat directly to the coating.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a finishing tool for use with coated pipe lengths wherein the tool can be operated by a single workman.

Other objects of the invention will be made clear or become apparent from the following description and claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the finishing tool of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side elevational view of the novel heater which forms a part of the invention with the finishing tool being illustrated in heat transfer relationship to the heater;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the end of a length of pipe illustrating the manner in which the finishing tool is disposed in engagement with the terminal edge of the coating to finish the same;

FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary crosssectional view through the pipe wall and coating taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 and illustrating the manner in which the finishing tool bevels and seals the coating on the surface of the pipe; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4 and illustrating the general appearance of the coating as it would appear prior to utilization of the finishing tool.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, the finishing tool is designated by the numeral 10. The tool 10 comprises an annular ring 12 and a pair of handles 14 and 16 which extend laterally from the ring 12 and are disposed in a common plane, which plane bisects the ring 12. The cross-sectional configuration of the ring 12 is illustrated in FIG. 4 and it is seen that the ring is characterized by a modified V-shaped cross-sectional configuration. The ring 12 includes a first circular portion 18, a bight portion 20 which is integral with and normal to the portion 18, and a second ring portion 22 which is integral with the portion 20 and extends away from the portion 18 at an acute angle before terminating in a free end. The portion 22 has an outer face 24 which provides the finishing surface for the tool 10.

The outer ends of the handles 14 and 16 are provided with insulated handholds 26 and 28 respectively. The handholds 26 and 28 permit the tool 10 to be held by a workman after it has been heated to a relatively high temperature upon a heater designated generally by the numeral 30 and shown in FIG. 2. The heater 30 is comprised of a cylindrical firebox 32 disposed in an upright position and having an opening therein for supplying a source of fuel such as natural gas to a burner ring 34. A shroud 36 is disposed in spaced relationship to the firebox 32 and connected to the latter by a plurality of brackets such as that designated by the numeral 38. The shroud 36 is provided with a plurality of legs 40 which hold the heater 30 in spaced relationship to the ground or other supporting surface and the shroud 36 also serves to provide a heat shield around the firebox 32. A heat deflector 42 is disposed at the top of the firebox 32 and held in spaced relationship to the inside of the latter by a plurality of brackets 44. A conical deflector member 47 which is secured to the inside surface of the deflector 42 facilitates transfer of the heat to the outside edge of the deflector where the tool 10 is disposed, in the area intermediate the peripheral edge of the deflector 42 and the inside of the firebox 32.

As previously described, a length of pipe such as that partially visible in FIG. 3 and designated by the numeral 48 has its outer surface 50 covered with a mastictype coating material 52. Each end of the pipe such as the end 54 visible in FIG. 3 is provided with a protective covering to prevent application of the coating material 52 to the ends and to provide a cutaway portion which is bare of the material 52. When the protective covering, which is itself coated with the material 52 during the coating operation, is pulled from the end 54 of the pipe 48, the coating material 52 fractures to present a jagged edge such as illustrated in FIG. 5 and designated by the numeral 56. Once two lengths of pipe have been welded together, it is necessary to complete the covering over the pipe by sealing the cutaway portions adjacent the ends 54. Manifestly, a jagged edge such as 56, would be highly susceptible to the entrance of moisture and would be difficult to seal with the application of tape around the cutaway portion of the jointed pipe. Furthermore, the fracturing of the coating material 52 upon removal of the protective covering from the pipe end 54, can adversely affect the adhesion of the material 52 to the surface 50, thus further increasing the possibility of a weak point in the pipe covering.

Thus, the tool is utilized to bevel the terminal end of the coating material 52 to remove the jagged edge while simultaneously perfecting a seal between the material 52 and the surface 50. To this end, the tool 10 is placed on the heater 30 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2, to raise the temperature of the face 24 to a point above the melting or softening point of the asphaltic binder in the material 52. Manifestly, from viewing FIG. 4, it is apparent that the internal diameter of the ring is greater than the outside diameter of the pipe thus accommodating pivotal movement of the ring about different axes to effectively iron the terminal end of the coating. It will be appreciated that the V-shaped configuration of the ring 12 results in the availability of a maximum heat transfer surface area. When the tool 10 has been heated to a sufficiently high temperature, it is removed from the heater 30 and telescoped over the end 54 of the pipe length 48 until it engages the terminal end of the coating material 52 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The tool 10 is then rotated or turned back and forth while force is applied longitudinally of the pipe to facilitate compaction of the material 52 and to cause the latter to assume the configuration of the face 24. As illustrated in FIG. 4, this transforms the jagged edge 56 into a smooth beveled surface 58.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A finishing tool for a pipe length coated with a thickness of meltable material over a portion of its length and having an uncoated exposed end, said tool comprising:

an annular ring adapted to be telescoped over the uncoated end of said pipe length,

said ring being characterized by the property of withstanding substantial heating without deformation, said ring presenting a smooth, uninterrupted surface disposed at an acute angle to the horizontal for engagement with the terminal end of said coating; said surface terminating in a free end adjacent the the internal diameter of the ring being greater than the outside diameter of the pipe; and

a pair of handles disposed at opposite sides of said ring,

whereby when said ring is heated and said surface is moved into engagement with said terminal end of the coating the ring may be pivoted about the pipe around different axes to cause the latter to effectively iron the terminal end and assume the configuration of said surface and seal the coating relative to the surface of the pipe.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said ring is of generally V-shaped cross section whereby to maximize the surface area available for heat transfer to and from the ring.

3. The invention of claim 2, wherein each of said handles comprises an elongated arm extending perpendicularly from a tangent to said ring, and an insulated handhold secured to said arm.

4. The invention of claim 3, wherein said handles are in planar alignment on opposite sides of said ring.

1 i i i 

1. A finishing tool for a pipe length coated with a thickness of meltable material over a portion of its length and having an uncoated exposed end, said tool comprising: an annular ring adapted to be telescoped over the uncoated end of said pipe length, said ring being characterized by the property of withstanding substantial heating without deformation, said ring presenting a smooth, uninterrupted surface disposed at an acute angle to the horizontal for engagement With the terminal end of said coating; said surface terminating in a free end adjacent the pipe, the internal diameter of the ring being greater than the outside diameter of the pipe; and a pair of handles disposed at opposite sides of said ring, whereby when said ring is heated and said surface is moved into engagement with said terminal end of the coating the ring may be pivoted about the pipe around different axes to cause the latter to effectively iron the terminal end and assume the configuration of said surface and seal the coating relative to the surface of the pipe.
 2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said ring is of generally V-shaped cross section whereby to maximize the surface area available for heat transfer to and from the ring.
 3. The invention of claim 2, wherein each of said handles comprises an elongated arm extending perpendicularly from a tangent to said ring, and an insulated handhold secured to said arm.
 4. The invention of claim 3, wherein said handles are in planar alignment on opposite sides of said ring. 